Libya's state-run television said on Tuesday that a NATO air strike on the town of Kikla, south of the capital Tripoli, killed a number of civilians and members of the police force.

"A bombardment by the crusaders' colonial aggression yesterday struck members of the public security force in charge of organising road traffic and checking identities," the Al-Jamahiriya channel said in a written newsflash.

"All the security force members as well as a number of children, women and men were martyred in the attack."

Kikla lies more than 100 km (60 miles) south of Tripoli. Al-Jamahiriya gave no details on the number of casualties in the incident on Monday.

Journalists have not been allowed to report freely in western Libya, making it difficult to verify accounts from both warring sides.